ReadOns.com | Discover New Blogs Daily

10 common warning signs of poor blood circulation

The circulatory system is responsible for transporting nutrients, blood, and oxygen to different body parts. This system majorly comprises the arteries, nerves, and the lymphatic system. Sometimes, plaque build-up, blood clots, and narrowed blood vessels affect the circulatory system’s functioning. In such cases, blood flow is affected, which can prove fatal. The following are the top ten warning signs of poor blood circulation that demand a timely visit to a healthcare professional.

Numbness and tingling in the extremities
Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet are among the most common signs of poor circulation. As a result of the restricted or inadequate blood flow, people often feel like they are losing sensation in their hands and legs or develop a prickling feeling. These discomforts may also result from a vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia, which can cause nerve damage and impair the supply of oxygen in the body. If ignored, these symptoms can lead to peripheral neuropathy over time.

Cold hands and feet
Improper circulation can result in temperature fluctuations in the nerve endings in the hands and feet, making them feel cold to the touch. Cold hands and feet may also be a warning sign of Raynaud’s syndrome, which causes the smaller arteries to become narrower and restricts blood flow. A sedentary lifestyle, especially one that requires sitting at a desk all day, may reduce circulation to the legs, causing cold feet. People with high cholesterol may also experience cold hands and feet because of reduced circulation due to plaque formation in the arteries.

Swelling in the lower body
As a result of poor circulation, some people experience fluid accumulation in specific body parts, especially those in the lower half. The condition is known as edema, and it generally affects the legs, ankles, and feet. Edema may also be a sign of heart failure. It occurs when the heart’s chambers cannot pump blood properly, causing blood to accumulate in the lower extremities. Other symptoms of blood accumulation in the lower extremities include heaviness, swelling, warm skin, stiff joints, and pain in the affected areas.

Cognitive dysfunction
Improper blood circulation can affect the brain’s functioning, causing memory loss and difficulty concentrating. In some cases, it can also lead to vascular dementia. The symptoms of vascular dementia include trouble concentrating, general confusion, sudden headaches, numbness or paralysis of one side of the body, difficulty paying attention, difficulty analyzing problems or situations, irritation, depression, mood changes, and personality changes.

Gas and bloating
The digestive system heavily relies on blood flow for proper functioning. As a result, poor circulation can cause gastrointestinal issues like bloating, abdominal pain, gas, cramps, diarrhea, bloody stools, or constipation. These discomforts can further affect sleep and lead to tiredness.

Fatigue
Improper blood supply to the muscles can cause them to become tired quicker. It can also lead to mental fatigue and stress, causing one to feel sleepy more often and experience difficulty concentrating. Other symptoms of fatigue include apathy, lack of motivation, daytime drowsiness, slower response time, headaches, irritability, moodiness, and visual problems like blurriness.

Joint pain and muscle cramping
Poor blood flow implies that the muscles and tissues in the body do not receive adequate nutrients and oxygen. This can lead to cramping and stiffness. Individuals may experience an aching sensation when the blood flow starts to return to normal levels.

Skin color changes
Circulation problems can make the skin look paler than usual. The discoloration is particularly noticeable around the nose, lips, ears, nipples, hands, and feet. Skin color changes commonly occur when one develops venous insufficiency, wherein the veins in the legs do not function properly, making it difficult for the blood to return to the heart. It can lead to symptoms like brown or reddish staining of the skin above the ankles, swollen ankles, dry skin, itchy skin, wounds on the lower legs, and prominent veins.

Leg ulcers
Due to poor circulation, the body does not receive adequate nutrients required to heal wounds. This can lead to the formation of ulcers in the legs and feet. The common symptoms of skin ulcers include discoloration of the skin, itching, scabbing, swelling of the skin near the ulcer, dry or flaky skin around the ulcer, pain or tenderness, foul odor, hair loss around the ulcer, and clear, bloody, or pus-filled discharge from the ulcer.

Varicose veins
Varicose veins could be both a cause and an effect of poor blood circulation. The condition generally affects people who spend long hours standing. When affected by it, the blood in the legs and feet cannot return to the heart efficiently. Instead, it pools in the region and causes itchiness, swelling, heaviness, and aches in the legs. The veins in the area also appear knotted.

Several health conditions can impact circulation. A few prominent examples include peripheral artery disease, blood clots, diabetes, and Raynaud’s disease. Individuals must visit their doctor immediately if they begin to experience the warning signs of poor blood circulation, such as tingling and pain. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent complications.

How are circulatory problems diagnosed and treated?
Since poor circulation may result from different health conditions, doctors conduct tests to determine the cause. These may include physical exams, health history evaluations, overall health examinations, antibody blood tests, D-dimer tests, ultrasounds, CT scans, blood pressure tests, and blood tests to evaluate a person’s blood count, blood sugar, kidney function, and cholesterol.

Depending on the cause, doctors prescribe a treatment plan to improve blood circulation. Common remedies include:

Using compression socks for swollen legs or mild varicose veins
Following an exercise program
Making lifestyle changes to improve circulation
Opting for laser or endoscopic vein surgery for varicose veins
Increasing the intake of vitamin E, antioxidants, folic acid, niacin, and beta-carotene

Popular Reads

11 useful tips for anxiety management

Nearly 84% of participants in a particular mental health survey were said to have some form of anxiety. The severity of symptoms did vary from person to person, but the fact remains that we live in a world where almost everything is a potential trigger for anxiety. And living in denial about having a psychological trigger only worsens the problem. Luckily, it is possible to manage anxiety by following the suggestions recommended by experts. Identify the triggers Anxiety is mainly triggered due to an event or episode where one finds themselves in a difficult position. It could be something that puts a person out of their comfort zone. Doctors advise people to identify these triggers and avoid them. Any comment, action, or situation that did not work out in favor triggers anxiety. So, make a list of such events and instances and ignore them the next time something happens related to that event. At the same time, try to remain positive as it can help strengthen the mind to manage anxiety better. Keep busy Distraction is one of the simplest ways to prevent a panic or anxiety attack. You can perform simple chores or indulge in a favorite task to stay physically and mentally occupied for a few hours. When the mind is occupied, there is hardly any scope for negative thoughts to trigger unnecessary overthinking. Some creative activities to boost cognitive performance include taking a walk, painting, drawing, listening to music, meditating, praying, and reading. You can opt for any of these to stay busy. Try mindfulness techniques Deep breathing and mindfulness techniques have helped thousands overcome their fear or anxiety time and again. Focused deep breathing is a method where one inhales for four counts and exhales for the same duration; this is practiced for minutes. It helps lower heart rate, which, in turn, calms the mind and body.

Atrial fibrillation – Causes, symptoms, and management tips

The human heart is susceptible to several health complications, including atrial fibrillation (AFib). The condition is the most common type of treated heart arrhythmia, which is a term describing when the heart beats unusually slowly, fast, or irregularly. AFib is estimated to affect between 2.7 million to 6.1 million individuals in the country. An individual with the complication experiences irregular beating in the heart’s upper chambers, affecting blood flow, leading to health complications. Causes Irregularities in the structure of the heart are the most common cause of atrial fibrillation. Sometimes people may develop the condition without any known heart damage or problems. Risk factors like age may also contribute to the development of atrial fibrillation. Other potential causes of the phenomenon include a heart attack, sick sinus syndrome – issues with the heart’s natural pacemaker, coronary artery disease, congenital heart defect – A heart defect that an individual might be born with, high blood pressure, lung diseases, heart valve problems, use of stimulants, including certain prescriptions and caffeine, physical stress caused due to pneumonia, other illnesses, and also surgery, sleep apnea, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), metabolic imbalances, viral infections, and complications due to earlier heart surgery. Symptoms A person who develops atrial fibrillation may not notice symptoms, and the condition is detected only after a physical examination. But some people experience signs and symptoms before a diagnosis. A few common symptoms of AFib include being unable to exercise to one’s full potential, feelings of weakness, throbbing pain in the chest, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations and sensations of a fast, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat, and feeling extremely fatigued. Therefore, the symptoms of atrial fibrillation differ from one person to the other. Occasional symptoms (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation) Here, a person may experience something that lasts from a few minutes to a couple of hours.

Macular degeneration – Types, causes, and remedies

Macular degeneration is a condition that affects a person’s vision and develops as people age. This progressive eye disorder involves the deterioration of the macula, which is a part of the eye’s retina. It is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults and may develop in one or both eyes. This condition is of two main types – dry and wet. Read further to learn about the disorder, its causes, and its types. Dry macular degeneration People are more likely to have dry macular degeneration than wet form. It is also less severe and develops when tiny yellow protein deposits under the macula. These deposits dry and thin the macula, causing gradual central vision loss while the peripheral vision remains intact. In the advanced stages, the dry form can progress to the wet form. People with dry macular degeneration need to test their eyes daily at home using an Amsler grid. One must consult a health expert immediately if any vision changes are observed. Wet macular degeneration In this condition, the blood vessels grow beneath the retina and macula and cause blood and fluid to leak into the retina. This build-up of fluid results in scarring, leading to permanent loss of central vision. The wet form can cause a sudden change in eyesight resulting in a severe loss of centralized vision when left untreated. People with wet macular degeneration may require repeated treatments. Symptoms Macular degeneration may not cause any symptoms during the early stages. However, as the condition progresses, it can cause distortion and blurry vision. It can result in difficulty reading, driving, and identifying colors. Macular degeneration occurs mainly in people aged over 50. Blurred vision Dark, blurry areas appear in the center of the vision, leading to increased blurriness in reading printed words. Visual distortion The person may experience visual distortions, such as straight lines that look wavy or crooked, and objects may appear distorted.